--- title: "Manchester City: Predicted XI to face Lyon" canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-predicted-xi-to-face-lyon/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Liam Togher" section: "Manchester City Football Club" published: "2020-08-15T08:50:26Z" modified: "2020-08-15T08:50:26Z" --- # Manchester City: Predicted XI to face Lyon **Manchester City will aim to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the [first time since 2016](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-city/pokalhistorie/verein/281) as they take on Lyon tonight at Lisbon’s Estadio Jose Alvalade.** The winner of this clash will become the third semi-finalist striving to [win a first Champions League title](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/uefa-champions-league/erfolge/pokalwettbewerb/CL), with [Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/uefa-champions-league/startseite/pokalwettbewerb/CL) also on course to make history tomorrow week. Having [completed a 4-2 aggregate victory over Real Madrid](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2027131--man-city-vs-real-madrid/) in their delayed round of 16 tie last week, Pep Guardiola’s side now face into a do-or-die single-leg clash against a Lyon side who have troubled them before, [winning at the Etihad Stadium](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-city/bilanzdetail/verein/281/wettbewerb_id/CL/gegner_id/1041/saison_id//heim_gast//datum_von/-/datum_bis/-/day/0/land_id/50) last season and [holding City to a draw in France](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-city/bilanzdetail/verein/281/wettbewerb_id/CL/gegner_id/1041/saison_id//heim_gast//datum_von/-/datum_bis/-/day/0/land_id/50). Sergio Aguero remains the only notable injury absentee, although Benjamin Mendy is available again, having served his suspension last Friday (as per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1481618/Preview/Europe-Champions-League-2019-2020-Manchester-City-Lyon)). Our predicted Manchester City line-up for tonight’s clash shows two changes from the team that [started last week’s win over Real Madrid](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3291936), along with a reshuffle in attack: ![man-city-predicted-xi-lyon-guardiola](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/lineup.png) [First-choice](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-city/leistungsdaten/verein/281) goalkeeper **Ederson** is a guaranteed starter between the sticks, while the centre-back partnership of **Aymeric Laporte** and **Fernandinho** is likely to be retained after limiting Real Madrid to only [four shots on target](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2027131--man-city-vs-real-madrid/statistics/?iv=true) last week. **Kyle Walker** also [seems to have Guardiola’s trust](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-city/leistungsdaten/verein/281) at right-back, although there could be a change on the other side now that **Mendy** is available. Joao Cancelo [switched from his usual right-back role](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/joao-cancelo/leistungsdaten/spieler/182712) to the left flank last week but, with the Frenchman a [more natural fit for that role](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-city/kadernachposition/verein/281), he seems likely to come back into the team. **Rodri** looks set to reprise his role at the base of the midfield, while the [creative mastery](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kevin-de-bruyne/leistungsdaten/spieler/88755) of **Kevin De Bruyne** makes him a near-certain starter. With City needing a positive result on the night, though, having been able to afford a draw last week, Ilkay Gundogan may drop out for the [more attack-minded](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-city/leistungsdaten/verein/281/reldata/%262019/plus/1) **David Silva**, who could (but hopefully won’t) make his final appearance for the club tonight as [his farewell tour](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/manchester-city/man-city-fans-sad-david-silva-leaving/)continues. Guardiola could opt for the [same three personnel in attack](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3291936), albeit in a different composition from last Friday. The manager sprung a surprise by deploying **Phil Foden** as a [false nine](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3291936) against Real Madrid and could move him back to the left flank, [a role with which he is more familiar](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/phil-foden/leistungsdaten/spieler/406635), although his [much-lauded performance](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8605839/Phil-Foden-no-longer-one-future-time-City-eliminate-Madrid.html) a week ago should see him keep his place in the starting line-up. \[freshpress-poll id=”314201″\] **Gabriel Jesus** [began on the left wing](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3291936) last week but he could swap with Foden and go to centre-forward to give City a [more conventional focal point](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gabriel-jesus/leistungsdaten/spieler/363205) of attack, with the in-form **Raheem Sterling** set to [continue on the right flank](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/3291936). His goal against Zinedine Zidane’s men was his [11th since the football season resumed](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/raheem-sterling/leistungsdaten/spieler/134425) in mid-June, so the England winger is likely to get the nod on the right ahead of Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez, who have [21 between them](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/manchester-city/leistungsdaten/verein/281) for the season. Guardiola’s options are plentiful; it’s just a matter of him identifying the line-up that he feels is best-placed to get the job done on the night, now that there are no second chances in this revamped Champions League format. ***Man City fans, is this the line-up that you expect to see against Lyon tonight? What changes do you anticipate from last week? Join in the discussion by commenting below!***